Catcher for rotary mower

ABSTRACT

A grass cuttings catcher for a rotary type mower having a discharge opening consists of a pair of frames surrounded by a flexible shroud including means for securing one of the frames to the deck of the mower. The frame members and the shroud define a chamber for the storage of the cuttings. The shroud is provided with an end wall supported by the frame members and is formed from flexible material, including means for holding the end wall into position to the shroud. The catcher is supported as a cantilever from the mower deck, and the lower frame of the catcher is provided with a deflector causing the cuttings to be diverted upward within the chamber so as to fall to the lower part of the chamber at a point remote from the discharge opening of the mower. The catcher is also characterized by upper and lower frame members having a toggle connection therebetween whereby the catcher may be collapsed and stored readily.

llnite States Patent 1 1 Armstrong [54] CATCHER FOR ROTARY MOWER [75]Inventor: William H. Armstrong, Bloomfield Hills,Mich.

[73] Assignee: Montgomery Ward & Co.,, Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 227,818

11 3,732,675 1 1 May 15, 1973 546,180 9/l957 Canada ..56/202 PrimaryExaminer-Hugh R. Chamblee Assistant Examiner-l A. Oliff Ahomey-Carpenter, Ostis & Lindberg [57] ABSTRACT A grass cuttings catcherfor a rotary type mower having a discharge opening consists of a pair offrames surrounded by a flexible shroud including means for securing oneof the frames to the deck of the mower. The frame members and the shrouddefine a chamber for the storage of the cuttings. The shroud is providedwith an end wall supported by the frame members and is formed fromflexible material, including means for holding the end wall intoposition to the shroud. The catcher is supported as a cantilever fromthe mower deck, and the lower frame of the catcher is provided with adeflector causing the cuttings to be diverted upward within the chamberso as to fall to the lower part of the chamber at a point remote fromthe discharge opening of the mower. The catcher is also characterized byupper and lower frame members having a toggle connection therebetweenwhereby the catcher may be collapsed and stored readily.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAY] 51975 SHEET 1 BF 2 BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION search.

Phelps 2,855,745 Oct. 14, 1958 56/202 Machalk 2,856,746 Oct. 21, 195856/202 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved grass catcher according tothe present invention is characterized by upper and lower frame membersenclosed within a shroud made of foraminous material, the upper framemember being supported in a cantilever fashion from the deck of themower adja cent the discharge opening thereof. The catcher ischaracterized by an increasing transverse crosssectional area, to theend that the velocity of the stream of cuttings-laden air emerging atthe discharge opening will diminish rapidly to lower the velocity of thesupporting air stream and cause the cuttings to be separated therefromreadily. The catcher is also characterized by a deflector disposed inthe lower portions thereof, the deflector causing the cuttings-laden airto be diverted upward and to cause the cuttings to be deposited withinthe catcher at a point remote from the discharge opening of the mower.The foraminous shroud is provided with an end wall remote from thedischarge of the mower, the flexible wall being readily moved to aposition for discharge of the cuttings from g the catcher. The upper andlower frame members are connected by a collapsible toggle whereby thecatcher may readily be stored.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rotary type mower showing thecatcher according to the present invention disposed in operablerelationship thereto;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the catcher seen in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a frame forming part of the catcher seenin FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom frame members of the catcher frameof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed transverse sectional view through one of the lowerframe members showing the manner in which a bottom plate and a side ofthe shroud are held in position to the bottom frame members of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a detailed side view showing the manner of supporting theupper frame members to the deck of the mower adjacent its dischargeopening;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing details of the frame structureadjacent the discharge opening of the mower;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing details of a toggle connectionbetween the upper and lower frame members whereby the catcher can becollapsed for storage; and

FIG. 9 is a detailed sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 4looking in the direction of the arrows, showing details of a deflectorfor the cuttingsladen air stream.

SPECIFICATION The improved grass cuttings catcher according to thepresent invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10and is shown in the environment of a rotary type mower 10A. The latterhas a blade housing 11 which may be formed integrally with structure forsupporting ground engaging wheels 12 located in such a fashion as toenable the mower to traverse the terrain. A pushing or towing handle 14is connected to the housing 11 at bracket members 15. The mower has aconventional rotor blade, not shown, which is powered by a prime moverPM supported on the housing 11.

Mower 10A has a discharged volute 16 for cuttings moved by the rotorblade, which cuttings are discharged therefrom at a discharge opening 17in housing 11. The precise form of mower 10A, the arrangement of theground engaging wheels 12, the volute 16 and discharge opening 17therefrom form no part of the present invention, and merely providebackground for the invention.

The grass cuttings catcher 10 includes a frame indicated generally bythe reference numeral 20 which is enclosed by a forarninous shroudindicated generally by the reference numeral 20A. Frame 20 includes agenerally U-shaped lower frame 21 having laterally spaced frame limbs21A connected by a frame element 21B. An upper frame 24 has aconfiguration generally like frame 21, and is spaced above the lowerframe 21. Frame 24 includes side frame elements 26 connected by an endframe element 28 and an opposed shorter frame element 27 to define withframe 20 a generally truncated pyramidal-shaped structure. Lower frame21 has a floor plate 23 extending therebetween, and the edges of theplate 23 are curled about the lower frame elements 21A as at 21C.

One end of the floor plate 23 is curled about a transversely extendinglower frame element 31, and the frame members 21A are similarly curledabout the element 31 as seen more clearly in FIG. 7. The ends of theframe element 31 are provided with upstanding rodlike elements 29 havingthe upper ends thereof passing through apertures 32 in the upper framemembers 26, the upper ends of members 29 being flattened as at 33 so asto provide a non-separable connection between the frame members 26 androd-like elements 29, yet permitting movement of frame members 26 withrespect thereto.

Structure is provided for effecting a connection between the upper frameelements 26 and the lower frame elements 21A adjacent the other endsthereof, and accordingly floor plate 23 has a transverse extending strip34 riveted thereto, strip 34 terminating at each end in upstandingbrackets 36. Lower toggle arms 37 are pivoted at the lower ends thereofto brackets 36, and has its upper end pivoted at 38 to an upper togglearm 39, it in turn being pivotally connected at 41 to the upper framemember 26. The toggle arms 37 and 39 are moved between a collapsedposition and an erected position as seen in FIG. 8. A locking structureis provided for the toggle arms 37 and 39 consisting of a lug 42 at thelower end of the upper toggle arm 39 and cooperating with a slot 43 inlower toggle arm 37.

The frame 20 thus far described is adapted to be enclosed within theshroud 20A seen in FIG. 2 and to support the same. The latter has sidepanels 44 connected by an upper panel 46, the material of the panels 44and 46 being foraminous for exit of air propelled by mower 10. The lowerends of the side panels 44 are secured in position by the curled-inportions 21C, see also FIG. 5.

Shroud 20A has an entrance opening 48 and a rear wall 49 remote from theentrance opening 48, rear wall 49 also preferably being made offoraminous material for the escape of air. End wall 49 has a narrowskirt 51 preferably provided with elastic therein whereby skirt 51 maybe closed and placed in position about the side and top walls 44 and 46.The lower edge of end wall 49 is held to the lower frame members in thesame fashion as the side walls 44 seen in FIG. 5.

Structure is provided for holding grass catcher in position on the deck11 of the mower 10A, and to this end a bracket 52 is secured atop deck11, and above discharge opening 17. Bracket 52 has a pair of opposed andconfronting horizontal limbs 53 extending from opposite ends thereof,limb 53 being disposed somewhat higher than limb 54. A strap member 56extends between the two upper frame members 26,26 and is provided withspaced depending tangs 57, each extending into an aperture 58 formed inlimb 54. Strap member 56 also has tangs 59 depending therefrom andspaced from the tangs 57 so as to engage the limbs 54 at a point remotefrom the apertures 58 therein.

Frame member 27 connecting the two frame members 24 is provided with anupstanding central boss 61 extending through an opening 62 in the limb53.

It will be noted that frame member 26 is brought beneath limb 53 andover limb 54, so that upper frame and frame members 21A and 21B pendenttherefrom together with the shroud 21A are supported in cantileverfashion at the bracket 52. By reason of the arrangement of the boss 61and tangs 57 and 59, the entire as-' sembly is prevented from swivelingwith respect to the discharge opening 17. It may also be noted thatthere is no requirement for the catcher 20 to be suspended from theoperating handle 14 as is generally customary.

Structure is provided for diverting the grass-laden current of airdischarged from the mower 10A, the cuttings being diverted upward andtoward the end of the shroud 20A remote from discharge opening 17 andbeing deposited upon floor plate 23.

It may be noted that the transverse cross-sectional area of the catcher10 is at a minimum adjacent the discharge opening 17, increasing to amaximum at the end wall 49. By reason of such increase incross-sectional area, the velocity of the grass-laden air emerging atthe discharge opening 17 to reduce its velocity, the air separated fromthe grass emerging from the openings in the foraminous side, top andends as seen in FIG. 2.

I claim:

1. In a grass cuttings catcher for a rotary type mower having a deckenclosing a rotor blade and a discharge opening from said deck, saidcatcher comprising:

a. a collapsible frame surrounded by a flexible foraminous shroudincluding means for securing said frame to said deck, said frameincluding:

i. a lower frame comprising a pair of diverging lower frame memberslying in an essentially horizontal plane;

ii. an upper frame spaced from said lower frame and comprising divergingupper frame members lying in a plane in diverging relation-ship withrespect to said lower frame to define with said lower frame and saidshroud a chamber for storage of said cuttings;

iii. a non-separable connection between said upper and lower frameswhere said frames are essentially closest to each other;

b. means connecting said upper and lower frames adjacent points wheresaid frames are essentially furthest from each other comprising a pairof collapsible toggle arms said arms being toggled to collapse saidupper and lower frame for storage;

0. an end wall in said shroud supported by said frame members and formedfrom flexible material including means for holding said end wall inposition to said shroud.

2. A catcher according to claim 1 wherein said end wall is provided witha skirt embracing the sides of top of said shroud.

3. A catcher according to claim 1 wherein said collapsible framecooperates with means mounted on said mower for securing said frame as acantilever extending from said mower.

4. A catcher according to claim 1 wherein said lower frame is providedwith a deflector for diverting cuttings-laden air to that portion ofsaid catcher remote from said discharge opening.

1. In a grass cuttings catcher for a rotary type mower having a deckenclosing a rotor blade and a discharge opening from said deck, saidcatcher comprising: a. a collapsible frame surrounded by a flexibleforaminous shroud including means for securing said frame to said deck,said frame including: i. a lower frame comprising a pair of diverginglower frame members lying in an essentially horizontal plane; ii. anupper frame spaced from said lower frame and comprising diverging upperframe members lying in a plane in diverging relation-ship with respectto said lower frame to define with said lower frame and said shroud achamber for storage of said cuttings; iii. a non-separable connectionbetween said upper and lower frames where said frames are essentiallyclosest to each other; b. means connecting said upper and lower framesadjacent points where said frames are essentially furthest from eachother comprising a pair of collapsible toggle arms said arms beingtoggled to collapse said upper and lower frame for storage; c. an endwall in said shroud supported by said frame members and formed fromflexible material including means for holding said end wall in positionto said shroud.
 2. A catcher according to claim 1 wherein said end wallis provided with a skirt embracing the sides of top of said shroud.
 3. Acatcher according to claim 1 wherein said collapsible frame cooperateswith means mounted on said mower for securing said frame as a cantileverextending from said mower.
 4. A catcher according to claim 1 whereinsaid lower frame is provided with a deflector for divertingcuttings-laden air to that portion of said catcher remote from saiddischarge opening.